My 1985 Town Car Sig.

[Piece-it pete]

Ended up being easy. Only damage left is the darn rocker dent, oh well.

But with new tires it's starting to feel like a Lincoln!

And since I blew my budget with the tires I figured, why stop there, my front end parts are on order. Install next weekend. Hoo-ha, Lincoln ride, come to poppa.

Rad hoses done (see rant in 'what are you working on' thread), the water pump and radiator's definately been replaced.

Put new dash speakers in, 3-1/2" Infinities ('cause the price was right), I'm not sure decent 4" aftermarkets would fit because I had to change my rigged adapters on the drivers side, the magnet was hitting the back of the temp gauge?

Smell antifreeze in the car - dangnabbit. Also the starter spun without catching one time this weekend. These things are a cosmic neccessity, since it has a new water pump and radiator - the scales must be balanced!!

Pete

[87gtVIC]

damn..Heater core replacement time.

[Lincolnmania]

heater cores are fun

[Piece-it pete]

On top of everything else. It's really ended up being a bigger project than I expected.

But it's worth it (I hope!). I feel like, for the money I could've bought a later model 'normal' car with 8 million miles on it, and NOT had a Town Car lol. I also expect that as I get stuff done, it's done. Profound

Plus, I can't believe how many folks love this car. Kids, people my age (early 40s), older folks, everyone wants to tell me how they like it.

I had a friends kid down in the hood tell me yesterday that the gangs use these cars, particularly with the tinted windows, for drivebys. Yay.

At least I shouldn't have issues when I visit the projects for crack.

But one older kid, 22 or 23 or so, tells me I should paint rainbows on the sides of it because the color is gay. Wonder if he's projecting

Pete

[79lincolnlover]

I had a friends kid down in the hood tell me yesterday that the gangs use these cars, particularly with the tinted windows, for drivebys. Yay.

At least I shouldn't have issues when I visit the projects for crack.

Pete

:smirk:

[Piece-it pete]

Update.

Haven't done a darn thing to it :smirk:

But the good news is, it looks like I'll have a few bucks to buy more parts I'll never install.

So what should I get? I'm going to go ahead and get new tierod ends, rotors, bearings, rubber brake line ends, might as well finish the front end while I've got it apart. And I heard motor mounts while the front end's out? Which mounts should I buy? Any poly suppliers?

I'm thinking starter soleniod and perhaps a starter, I should get the newer starter, any part numbers?

U joints too. How do I know if I have the factory tow package? I do have dual exhuast.

Any other suggestions?

Pete

[gadget73]

If you pull the lower control arms to do bushings, do the motor mounts. Its like an hour of extra work to do them with the suspension out, or 4 hours of cursing to do it with the arms in place. I bought replacements from Napa. They're nothing special but they aren't jello like the originals were either.

Factory tow package has coolers in front of the radiator. If you have a trans cooler, thats a good sign.

[Piece-it pete]

Thanks man! I'll just pick up the cheapie mounts from Rock then.

Since I seem to be on a question roll, I've got a minor issue: my front parking lights come on when the lights are off, and go off when I turn on the lights. I thought it might be the headlight switch. Any ideas?

Pete

[Piece-it pete]

Captains log, stardate 2472....

I've mentioned a lot of this in the working on thread but like it in one place. Bushings/ball joints/front springs done. Didn't have the mounts yet, but that's a job I can pay 'the kids' a few bucks to do (I'm 'Uncle Pete' to about 5 million city kids and a lot of them know how to wrench).

Also rotors bearings tierod ends and a whole bunch of other miscellany. Got the alignment done yesterday, it took them 3+ hours because they did have the special tool for the uppers. I'm glad they still took the time to do it right. That was Conrads btw, I'm dropping off a half case of Bud for the guy who did it on my way home tonight.

Sadly one of the rotors has a hard spot that really hits, so I'm still not basking in Lincoln joy. Awaiting the replacement from Rock.

Also I had to have the intake manifold pulled to drill out the thermostat housing bolts and it appears that they messed up the vacuum lines in installation as I'm having some relatively minor issues I mentioned over in the CFI forum. It's going back Saturday for a complete once over (the guy's my neighbor, he doesn't DARE screw me ) with perhaps info gleaned from you guys'es brains.

And the new top is on hold

But it's great. I get the universals & starter changed (this weekend I hope), windows & a/c working, and a couple little things, I'll be able to cruiser this bee-ach to SC in August

(it was June for Graduation but my niece FAILED a class and is in summer school :grr: )

I never would've got this far without you guys, I probably would've given it up as a bad job and sold it, I find myself saying thank you a lot on this site, but thanks again

Pete

PS: marquisman, it was a long time before I realised that was a cigar

[87gtVIC]

Good to hear. Hope you get the top soon. It will definitely change the look of the car.

[Piece-it pete]

I was almost shocked when I realised the top was supposed to be the same color as the car, it's so faded I thought it was supposed to be blue/grey. Agreed it should look AWESOME when done.

But I'm out of money My plan was new top now, new paint come bonus time, but now the way too hopeful theory is new top bonus, new paint tax time. Argh.

I've spent so much at Rock they assigned me a rep

Pete

[gadget73]

Progress is good, but expensive. I know that story well.

[Piece-it pete]

Congratulate me boys, it's a banner day!

I FIXED THE LAST RATTLE!



Pull up to the bar, the drinks are on me!

It turned out to be the front calipers. I got hardware kits for them that included new rubber boots and thin plastic sleeves. For the life of me I couldn't figure out where the sleeves went.

It was kinda obvious, that they went inside the boots, but it didn't look like the bolts would fit. Finally I just forced the bolts in. Wala'!

Oh yeah. This has got to be the high point of the biggest overall auto job I've ever done.

Cheers!

Pete

[gadget73]

oh yeah, the stupid guide pin bushings. I wonder if thats the damn rattle my Mark VII makes. Same calipers. I forgot all about those.

[Piece-it pete]

The inside top of the calipers had grind marks from the rotors. They really rattled.

Friday evening Rock actually called me at home to make sure I was happy over the way they handled the bad rotor I got from them. Pretty classy.

She's ridin' nicely! Slight pull to the left, I'll have to take it back to Conrads. The mech there is going to groan when he sees it

Pete